Vol. 536 No. 5
91 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of subvention cases which have been identified by the North-Western Health Board where arrears of subvention are due as a result of his decision to pay arrears as far back as 1993; and the total level of funding which is outstanding as a result of health board investigations. [14536/01]
The provision in the Nursing Home (Subvention) Regulations which allowed for the assessment of the capacity of the adult sons and/or daughters of older people who applied for nursing home subventions to contribute towards the cost of their parents' nursing home care was deleted from 1 January 1999. As the Deputy is aware, although legal advice from the office of the Attorney General indicates that there is no legal liability on the State to make retrospective payments in relation to this issue, it has been decided that moneys should be paid to those who were adversely affected by this provision. It is anticipated that these payments will cost in the region of £6 million.
